Would you expect meat from a vegetarian couple?

I’ve told my mother several times that my boyfriend and I want a cheap, informal, backyard party. In fact we might just get married at the town hall and have the party later without a ceremony. We haven’t really started planning anything but whatever we do it’s probably not going to be very wedding-y. I was just on the phone with her and she asked about food… I said i was thinking about pizza and she said “you can’t have that for a wedding” and that I should have a barbeque.

I told her I don’t want that because I don’t want to serve meat and she said that people “aren’t going to have a good time” if I don’t have meat there. My boyfriend and I are both long-time vegetarians. I already knew people would gripe about a meatless wedding, but I figured they wouldn’t actually expect meat. We were vegetarians since before we even met, and we’ve been together for 9 years. This isn’t a surprise to anyone.

I also don’t see how people will be unable to have a good time at a party with pizza and alcohol. How bad can that be? It’s not like I’m making them eat the dreaded tofu. Everyone eats pizza! And if someone wants to smuggle in a burger or something, then whatever, but *I’m* not going out of my way to serve that.

Would you be surprised or offended if you went to a vegetarian couple’s wedding and they didn’t have meat there?

@lampshade: oh lord. Mom’s can be so uptight. As long as everyone is fed food that they will eat- tofu is scary to us non veg, you’re right- no one will care. If you did want to cook out- there are some veggie burgers out there that this meat eater will choose over beef. But if you’re going for a relaxed feel, pizza and salad will be just fine.

I actually thibk pizza would be totally awesome. Even more awesome: allows guests to make their own mini pizzas! Ypu could have all the toppings in cute bowls on ice or staying chill sonwehere and make lots of crusts and some saice bowls. I would be 100% into that. I DO think it would be cool of you giys to have some pepperoni or sausage crumbles for the pizzas though, if you’re comfortable with it. If not, have lots of veggie options and call it a day.

DH and I make pizza at home all the time and its so fast and fuN! I bet you could rent a pizza cooker for the night Too pretty cheaply.

I wouldn’t expect meat…however I would expect something like a nice hearty pasta dish, I wouldn’t want just veggies or (ewww) tofu…I (and many other meat eaters I know) hate when things are meat substitutes (like meatless lasagna or meatless chilli, or tofu chicken etc etc), just do a dish that is hearty and usually vegetarian anyway (who doesn’t enjoy a nice spaghetti pomodoro?)

Just went back and re-read your thing, I’d be f***ing thrilled to have pizza at any wedding, lol, sounds perfect to me!

@lampshade: Is it required? No, you can choose. Is it courteous to offer a meat option? Yes.

I am making sure I accomodate all types of eaters at my wedding. There will be a vegetarian option, vegan option and gluten free option.

As long as you don’t do something that is an unusual choice (i.e., tofu, veggie burgers, meat substitutes, etc) you will likely be fine.

Pizza would work if you are going for a very laid back theme (which it sounds like you are). You might want to consider getting a few pizzas with meat toppings (pepperoni, sausage or chicken) just to be courteous, but that is your choice.

@lampshade: DH and I are both vegetarans for the majority of our lives and are not serving meat. We are going to have awesome, delicious food, and plenty of it. I think people sometimes assume that vegetarian = iceberg lettuce and raw tofu or something lol. If someone can’t go half a day without eating meat, they have a serious problem 😛

I hate the “not everyone is a vegetarian!” argument. Even the most hardcore meat-eaters I know eat and enjoy non-meat foods as well.